Vocabulary List#

Darwin Core

Current Version: 2023-09-18

Required:

basisOfRecord

The specific nature of the data record.

examples: MaterialEntity; PreservedSpecimen; FossilSpecimen; LivingSpecimen; MaterialSample; Event; HumanObservation; MachineObservation; Taxon; Occurrence; MaterialCitation
eventDate

The date-time or interval during which a dwc:Event occurred. For occurrences, this is the date-time when the dwc:Event was recorded. Not suitable for a time in a geological context.

examples: 1963-03-08T14:07-0600 (8 Mar 1963 at 2:07pm in the time zone six hours earlier than UTC); 2009-02-20T08:40Z (20 February 2009 8:40am UTC); 2018-08-29T15:19 (3:19pm local time on 29 August 2018); 1809-02-12 (some time during 12 February 1809); 1906-06 (some time in June 1906); 1971 (some time in the year 1971); 2007-03-01T13:00:00Z/2008-05-11T15:30:00Z (some time during the interval between 1 March 2007 1pm UTC and 11 May 2008 3:30pm UTC); 1900/1909 (some time during the interval between the beginning of the year 1900 and the end of the year 1909); 2007-11-13/15 (some time in the interval between 13 November 2007 and 15 November 2007)
Spatial Information
- decimalLatitude
  
  The geographic latitude (in decimal degrees, using the spatial reference system given in dwc:geodeticDatum) of the geographic center of a dcterms:Location. Positive values are north of the Equator, negative values are south of it. Legal values lie between -90 and 90, inclusive.
  
  examples: -41.0983423
- decimalLongitude
  
  The geographic longitude (in decimal degrees, using the spatial reference system given in dwc:geodeticDatum) of the geographic center of a dcterms:Location. Positive values are east of the Greenwich Meridian, negative values are west of it. Legal values lie between -180 and 180, inclusive.
  
  examples: -121.1761111
- geodeticDatum
  
  The ellipsoid, geodetic datum, or spatial reference system (SRS) upon which the geographic coordinates given in dwc:decimalLatitude and dwc:decimalLongitude are based.
  
  examples: EPSG:4326; WGS84; NAD27; Campo Inchauspe; European 1950; Clarke 1866; unknown
- coordinateUncertaintyInMeters
  
  The horizontal distance (in meters) from the given dwc:decimalLatitude and dwc:decimalLongitude describing the smallest circle containing the whole of the dcterms:Location. Leave the value empty if the uncertainty is unknown, cannot be estimated, or is not applicable (because there are no coordinates). Zero is not a valid value for this term.
  
  examples: 30 (reasonable lower limit on or after 2000-05-01 of a GPS reading under good conditions if the actual precision was not recorded at the time); 100 (reasonable lower limit before 2000-05-01 of a GPS reading under good conditions if the actual precision was not recorded at the time); 71 (uncertainty for a UTM coordinate having 100 meter precision and a known spatial reference system)
Unique Identifiers
NOTE: CHOOSE ONLY ONE
- occurrenceID
  
  An identifier for the dwc:Occurrence (as opposed to a particular digital record of the dwc:Occurrence). In the absence of a persistent global unique identifier, construct one from a combination of identifiers in the record that will most closely make the dwc:occurrenceID globally unique.
  
  examples: http://arctos.database.museum/guid/MSB:Mamm:233627; 000866d2-c177-4648-a200-ead4007051b9; urn:catalog:UWBM:Bird:89776
- catalogNumber
  
  An identifier (preferably unique) for the record within the data set or collection.
  
  examples: 145732; 145732a; 2008.1334; R-4313
- recordNumber
  
  An identifier given to the dwc:Occurrence at the time it was recorded. Often serves as a link between field notes and a dwc:Occurrence record, such as a specimen collector’s number.
  
  examples: OPP 7101
Taxonomic Information
- scientificName
  
  The full scientific name, with authorship and date information if known. When forming part of a dwc:Identification, this should be the name in lowest level taxonomic rank that can be determined. This term should not contain identification qualifications, which should instead be supplied in the dwc:identificationQualifier term.
  
  examples: Coleoptera (order); Vespertilionidae (family); Manis (genus); Ctenomys sociabilis (genus + specificEpithet); Ambystoma tigrinum diaboli (genus + specificEpithet + infraspecificEpithet); Roptrocerus typographi (Györfi, 1952) (genus + specificEpithet + scientificNameAuthorship); Quercus agrifolia var. oxyadenia (Torr.) J.T. Howell (genus + specificEpithet + taxonRank + infraspecificEpithet + scientificNameAuthorship); ×Agropogon littoralis (Sm.) C. E. Hubb.; Mentha ×smithiana R. A. Graham; Agrostis stolonifera L. × Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf.
- taxonRank
  
  The taxonomic rank of the most specific name in the dwc:scientificName.
  
  examples: subspecies; varietas; forma; species; genus; nothogenus; nothospecies; nothosubspecies
- kingdom
  
  The full scientific name of the kingdom in which the dwc:Taxon is classified.
  
  examples: Animalia; Archaea; Bacteria; Chromista; Fungi; Plantae; Protozoa; Viruses
- phylum
  
  The full scientific name of the phylum or division in which the dwc:Taxon is classified.
  
  examples: Chordata (phylum); Bryophyta (division)
- class
  
  The full scientific name of the class in which the dwc:Taxon is classified.
  
  examples: Mammalia; Hepaticopsida
- order
  
  The full scientific name of the order in which the dwc:Taxon is classified.
  
  examples: Carnivora; Monocleales
- family
  
  The full scientific name of the superfamily in which the dwc:Taxon is classified.
  
  examples: Achatinoidea; Cerithioidea; Helicoidea; Hypsibioidea; Valvatoidea; Zonitoidea
- genus
  
  The full scientific name of the genus in which the dwc:Taxon is classified.
  
  examples: Puma; Monoclea

Recommended:

dataGeneralizations

Actions taken to make the shared data less specific or complete than in its original form. Suggests that alternative data of higher quality may be available on request.

examples: Coordinates generalized from original GPS coordinates to the nearest half degree grid cell.
informationWithheld

Additional information that exists, but that has not been shared in the given record.

examples: location information not given for endangered species; collector identities withheld | ask about tissue samples
Spatial Information
- coordinatePrecision
  
  A decimal representation of the precision of the coordinates given in the dwc:decimalLatitude and dwc:decimalLongitude.
  
  examples: 0.00001 (normal GPS limit for decimal degrees); 0.000278 (nearest second); 0.01667 (nearest minute); 1.0 (nearest degree)
- country
  
  The name of the country or major administrative unit in which the dcterms:Location occurs.
  
  examples: Denmark; Colombia; España
- locality
  
  The specific description of the place.
  
  examples: Bariloche, 25 km NNE via Ruta Nacional 40 (=Ruta 237); Queets Rainforest, Olympic National Park
- stateProvince
  
  The name of the next smaller administrative region than country (state, province, canton, department, region, etc.) in which the dcterms:Location occurs.
  
  examples: Montana; Minas Gerais; Córdoba
Further Identification
- identificationQualifier
  
  A brief phrase or a standard term (“cf.”, “aff.”) to express the determiner’s doubts about the dwc:Identification.
  
  examples: aff. agrifolia var. oxyadenia (for Quercus aff. agrifolia var. oxyadenia with accompanying values Quercus in genus, agrifolia in specificEpithet, oxyadenia in infraspecificEpithet, and var. in taxonRank); cf. var. oxyadenia (for Quercus agrifolia cf. var. oxyadenia with accompanying values Quercus in genus, agrifolia in specificEpithet, oxyadenia in infraspecificEpithet, and var. in taxonRank)
- identificationReferences
  
  A list (concatenated and separated) of references (publication, global unique identifier, URI) used in the dwc:Identification.
  
  examples: Aves del Noroeste Patagonico. Christie et al. 2004.; Stebbins, R. Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians. 3rd Edition. 2003. | Irschick, D.J. and Shaffer, H.B. (1997). The polytypic species revisited: Morphological differentiation among tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum) (Amphibia: Caudata). Herpetologica, 53(1), 30-49.
- identificationVerificationStatus
  
  A categorical indicator of the extent to which the taxonomic identification has been verified to be correct.
  
  examples: 0 (“unverified” in HISPID/ABCD).
- identifiedBy
  
  A list (concatenated and separated) of names of people, groups, or organizations who assigned the dwc:Taxon to the subject.
  
  examples: James L. Patton; Theodore Pappenfuss | Robert Macey
- identifiedByID
  
  A list (concatenated and separated) of the globally unique identifier for the person, people, groups, or organizations responsible for assigning the dwc:Taxon to the subject.
  
  examples: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1825-0097 (for an individual); https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1825-0097 | https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1825-0098 (for a list of people)
Further Occurrence Information
- individualCount
  
  The number of individuals present at the time of the dwc:Occurrence.
  
  examples: 0; 1; 25
- occurrenceStatus
  
  A statement about the presence or absence of a dwc:Taxon at a dcterms:Location.
  
  examples: present; absent
- recordedBy
  
  A list (concatenated and separated) of names of people, groups, or organizations responsible for recording the original dwc:Occurrence. The primary collector or observer, especially one who applies a personal identifier (dwc:recordNumber), should be listed first.
  
  examples: José E. Crespo; Oliver P. Pearson | Anita K. Pearson (where the value in recordNumber OPP 7101 corresponds to the collector number for the specimen in the field catalog of Oliver P. Pearson)
Event Information
- eventID
  
  An identifier for the set of information associated with a dwc:Event (something that occurs at a place and time). May be a global unique identifier or an identifier specific to the data set.
  
  examples: INBO:VIS:Ev:00009375
- samplingProtocol
  
  The names of, references to, or descriptions of the methods or protocols used during a dwc:Event.
  
  examples: UV light trap; mist net; bottom trawl; ad hoc observation | point count; Penguins from space: faecal stains reveal the location of emperor penguin colonies, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-8238.2009.00467.x; Takats et al. 2001. Guidelines for Nocturnal Owl Monitoring in North America. Beaverhill Bird Observatory and Bird Studies Canada, Edmonton, Alberta. 32 pp., http://www.bsc-eoc.org/download/Owl.pdf

Rest:

Event

day

The integer day of the month on which the dwc:Event occurred.

endDayOfYear

The latest integer day of the year on which the dwc:Event occurred (1 for January 1, 365 for December 31, except in a leap year, in which case it is 366).

eventDate

The date-time or interval during which a dwc:Event occurred. For occurrences, this is the date-time when the dwc:Event was recorded. Not suitable for a time in a geological context.

eventID

An identifier for the set of information associated with a dwc:Event (something that occurs at a place and time). May be a global unique identifier or an identifier specific to the data set.

eventRemarks

Comments or notes about the dwc:Event.

eventTime

The time or interval during which a dwc:Event occurred.

eventType

The nature of the dwc:Event.

fieldNotes

One of a) an indicator of the existence of, b) a reference to (publication, URI), or c) the text of notes taken in the field about the dwc:Event.

fieldNumber

An identifier given to the dwc:Event in the field. Often serves as a link between field notes and the dwc:Event.

habitat

A category or description of the habitat in which the dwc:Event occurred.

month

The integer month in which the dwc:Event occurred.

parentEventID

An identifier for the broader dwc:Event that groups this and potentially other dwc:Events.

sampleSizeUnit

The unit of measurement of the size (time duration, length, area, or volume) of a sample in a sampling dwc:Event.

sampleSizeValue

A numeric value for a measurement of the size (time duration, length, area, or volume) of a sample in a sampling dwc:Event.

samplingEffort

The amount of effort expended during a dwc:Event.

samplingProtocol

The names of, references to, or descriptions of the methods or protocols used during a dwc:Event.

startDayOfYear

The earliest integer day of the year on which the dwc:Event occurred (1 for January 1, 365 for December 31, except in a leap year, in which case it is 366).

verbatimEventDate

The verbatim original representation of the date and time information for a dwc:Event.

year

The four-digit year in which the dwc:Event occurred, according to the Common Era Calendar.
GeologicalContext

bed

The full name of the lithostratigraphic bed from which the dwc:MaterialEntity was collected.

earliestAgeOrLowestStage

The full name of the earliest possible geochronologic age or lowest chronostratigraphic stage attributable to the stratigraphic horizon from which the dwc:MaterialEntity was collected.

earliestEonOrLowestEonothem

The full name of the earliest possible geochronologic eon or lowest chrono-stratigraphic eonothem or the informal name (“Precambrian”) attributable to the stratigraphic horizon from which the dwc:MaterialEntity was collected.

earliestEpochOrLowestSeries

The full name of the earliest possible geochronologic epoch or lowest chronostratigraphic series attributable to the stratigraphic horizon from which the dwc:MaterialEntity was collected.

earliestEraOrLowestErathem

The full name of the earliest possible geochronologic era or lowest chronostratigraphic erathem attributable to the stratigraphic horizon from which the dwc:MaterialEntity was collected.

earliestPeriodOrLowestSystem

The full name of the earliest possible geochronologic period or lowest chronostratigraphic system attributable to the stratigraphic horizon from which the dwc:MaterialEntity was collected.

formation

The full name of the lithostratigraphic formation from which the dwc:MaterialEntity was collected.

group

The full name of the lithostratigraphic group from which the dwc:MaterialEntity was collected.

highestBiostratigraphicZone

The full name of the highest possible geological biostratigraphic zone of the stratigraphic horizon from which the dwc:MaterialEntity was collected.

latestAgeOrHighestStage

The full name of the latest possible geochronologic age or highest chronostratigraphic stage attributable to the stratigraphic horizon from which the dwc:MaterialEntity was collected.

latestEonOrHighestEonothem

The full name of the latest possible geochronologic eon or highest chrono-stratigraphic eonothem or the informal name (“Precambrian”) attributable to the stratigraphic horizon from which the dwc:MaterialEntity was collected.

latestEpochOrHighestSeries

The full name of the latest possible geochronologic epoch or highest chronostratigraphic series attributable to the stratigraphic horizon from which the dwc:MaterialEntity was collected.

latestEraOrHighestErathem

The full name of the latest possible geochronologic era or highest chronostratigraphic erathem attributable to the stratigraphic horizon from which the dwc:MaterialEntity was collected.

latestPeriodOrHighestSystem

The full name of the latest possible geochronologic period or highest chronostratigraphic system attributable to the stratigraphic horizon from which the dwc:MaterialEntity was collected.

lithostratigraphicTerms

The combination of all litho-stratigraphic names for the rock from which the dwc:MaterialEntity was collected.

lowestBiostratigraphicZone

The full name of the lowest possible geological biostratigraphic zone of the stratigraphic horizon from which the dwc:MaterialEntity was collected.

member

The full name of the lithostratigraphic member from which the dwc:MaterialEntity was collected.

geologicalContextID

An identifier for the set of information associated with a dwc:GeologicalContext (the location within a geological context, such as stratigraphy). May be a global unique identifier or an identifier specific to the data set.
Identification

dateIdentified

The date on which the subject was determined as representing the dwc:Taxon.

identificationID

An identifier for the dwc:Identification (the body of information associated with the assignment of a scientific name). May be a global unique identifier or an identifier specific to the data set.

identificationQualifier

A brief phrase or a standard term (“cf.”, “aff.”) to express the determiner’s doubts about the dwc:Identification.

identificationReferences

A list (concatenated and separated) of references (publication, global unique identifier, URI) used in the dwc:Identification.

identificationRemarks

Comments or notes about the dwc:Identification.

identificationVerificationStatus

A categorical indicator of the extent to which the taxonomic identification has been verified to be correct.

identifiedBy

A list (concatenated and separated) of names of people, groups, or organizations who assigned the dwc:Taxon to the subject.

identifiedByID

A list (concatenated and separated) of the globally unique identifier for the person, people, groups, or organizations responsible for assigning the dwc:Taxon to the subject.

typeStatus

A list (concatenated and separated) of nomenclatural types (type status, typified scientific name, publication) applied to the subject.

verbatimIdentification

A string representing the taxonomic identification as it appeared in the original record.
Location

continent

The name of the continent in which the dcterms:Location occurs.

coordinatePrecision

A decimal representation of the precision of the coordinates given in the dwc:decimalLatitude and dwc:decimalLongitude.

coordinateUncertaintyInMeters

The horizontal distance (in meters) from the given dwc:decimalLatitude and dwc:decimalLongitude describing the smallest circle containing the whole of the dcterms:Location. Leave the value empty if the uncertainty is unknown, cannot be estimated, or is not applicable (because there are no coordinates). Zero is not a valid value for this term.

country

The name of the country or major administrative unit in which the dcterms:Location occurs.

countryCode

The standard code for the country in which the dcterms:Location occurs.

county

The full, unabbreviated name of the next smaller administrative region than stateProvince (county, shire, department, etc.) in which the dcterms:Location occurs.

decimalLatitude

The geographic latitude (in decimal degrees, using the spatial reference system given in dwc:geodeticDatum) of the geographic center of a dcterms:Location. Positive values are north of the Equator, negative values are south of it. Legal values lie between -90 and 90, inclusive.

decimalLongitude

The geographic longitude (in decimal degrees, using the spatial reference system given in dwc:geodeticDatum) of the geographic center of a dcterms:Location. Positive values are east of the Greenwich Meridian, negative values are west of it. Legal values lie between -180 and 180, inclusive.

footprintSRS

The ellipsoid, geodetic datum, or spatial reference system (SRS) upon which the geometry given in dwc:footprintWKT is based.

footprintSpatialFit

The ratio of the area of the dwc:footprintWKT to the area of the true (original, or most specific) spatial representation of the dcterms:Location. Legal values are 0, greater than or equal to 1, or undefined. A value of 1 is an exact match or 100% overlap. A value of 0 should be used if the given dwc:footprintWKT does not completely contain the original representation. The dwc:footprintSpatialFit is undefined (and should be left empty) if the original representation is any geometry without area (e.g., a point or polyline) and without uncertainty and the given georeference is not that same geometry (without uncertainty). If both the original and the given georeference are the same point, the dwc:footprintSpatialFit is 1.

footprintWKT

A Well-Known Text (WKT) representation of the shape (footprint, geometry) that defines the dcterms:Location. A dcterms:Location may have both a point-radius representation (see dwc:decimalLatitude) and a footprint representation, and they may differ from each other.

geodeticDatum

The ellipsoid, geodetic datum, or spatial reference system (SRS) upon which the geographic coordinates given in dwc:decimalLatitude and dwc:decimalLongitude are based.

georeferenceProtocol

A description or reference to the methods used to determine the spatial footprint, coordinates, and uncertainties.

georeferenceRemarks

Notes or comments about the spatial description determination, explaining assumptions made in addition or opposition to the those formalized in the method referred to in dwc:georeferenceProtocol.

georeferenceSources

A list (concatenated and separated) of maps, gazetteers, or other resources used to georeference the dcterms:Location, described specifically enough to allow anyone in the future to use the same resources.

georeferencedBy

A list (concatenated and separated) of names of people, groups, or organizations who determined the georeference (spatial representation) for the dcterms:Location.

georeferencedDate

The date on which the dcterms:Location was georeferenced.

higherGeography

A list (concatenated and separated) of geographic names less specific than the information captured in the dwc:locality term.

higherGeographyID

An identifier for the geographic region within which the dcterms:Location occurred.

island

The name of the island on or near which the dcterms:Location occurs.

islandGroup

The name of the island group in which the dcterms:Location occurs.

locality

The specific description of the place.

locationAccordingTo

Information about the source of this dcterms:Location information. Could be a publication (gazetteer), institution, or team of individuals.

locationID

An identifier for the set of dcterms:Location information. May be a global unique identifier or an identifier specific to the data set.

locationRemarks

Comments or notes about the dcterms:Location.

maximumDepthInMeters

The greater depth of a range of depth below the local surface, in meters.

maximumDistanceAboveSurfaceInMeters

The greater distance in a range of distance from a reference surface in the vertical direction, in meters. Use positive values for locations above the surface, negative values for locations below. If depth measures are given, the reference surface is the location given by the depth, otherwise the reference surface is the location given by the elevation.

maximumElevationInMeters

The upper limit of the range of elevation (altitude, usually above sea level), in meters.

minimumDepthInMeters

The lesser depth of a range of depth below the local surface, in meters.

minimumDistanceAboveSurfaceInMeters

The lesser distance in a range of distance from a reference surface in the vertical direction, in meters. Use positive values for locations above the surface, negative values for locations below. If depth measures are given, the reference surface is the location given by the depth, otherwise the reference surface is the location given by the elevation.

minimumElevationInMeters

The lower limit of the range of elevation (altitude, usually above sea level), in meters.

municipality

The full, unabbreviated name of the next smaller administrative region than county (city, municipality, etc.) in which the dcterms:Location occurs. Do not use this term for a nearby named place that does not contain the actual dcterms:Location.

pointRadiusSpatialFit

The ratio of the area of the point-radius (dwc:decimalLatitude, dwc:decimalLongitude, dwc:coordinateUncertaintyInMeters) to the area of the true (original, or most specific) spatial representation of the dcterms:Location. Legal values are 0, greater than or equal to 1, or undefined. A value of 1 is an exact match or 100% overlap. A value of 0 should be used if the given point-radius does not completely contain the original representation. The dwc:pointRadiusSpatialFit is undefined (and should be left empty) if the original representation is any geometry without area (e.g., a point or polyline) and without uncertainty and the given georeference is not that same geometry (without uncertainty). If both the original and the given georeference are the same point, the dwc:pointRadiusSpatialFit is 1.

stateProvince

The name of the next smaller administrative region than country (state, province, canton, department, region, etc.) in which the dcterms:Location occurs.

verbatimCoordinateSystem

The coordinate format for the dwc:verbatimLatitude and dwc:verbatimLongitude or the dwc:verbatimCoordinates of the dcterms:Location.

verbatimCoordinates

The verbatim original spatial coordinates of the dcterms:Location. The coordinate ellipsoid, geodeticDatum, or full Spatial Reference System (SRS) for these coordinates should be stored in dwc:verbatimSRS and the coordinate system should be stored in dwc:verbatimCoordinateSystem.

verbatimLatitude

The verbatim original latitude of the dcterms:Location. The coordinate ellipsoid, geodeticDatum, or full Spatial Reference System (SRS) for these coordinates should be stored in dwc:verbatimSRS and the coordinate system should be stored in dwc:verbatimCoordinateSystem.

verbatimLongitude

The verbatim original longitude of the dcterms:Location. The coordinate ellipsoid, geodeticDatum, or full Spatial Reference System (SRS) for these coordinates should be stored in dwc:verbatimSRS and the coordinate system should be stored in dwc:verbatimCoordinateSystem.

verbatimSRS

The ellipsoid, geodetic datum, or spatial reference system (SRS) upon which coordinates given in dwc:verbatimLatitude and dwc:verbatimLongitude, or dwc:verbatimCoordinates are based.

verticalDatum

The vertical datum used as the reference upon which the values in the elevation terms are based.

waterBody

The name of the water body in which the dcterms:Location occurs.

verbatimLocality

The original textual description of the place.

verbatimDepth

The original description of the depth below the local surface.

verbatimElevation

The original description of the elevation (altitude, usually above sea level) of the Location.
MaterialEntity

associatedSequences

A list (concatenated and separated) of identifiers (publication, global unique identifier, URI) of genetic sequence information associated with the dwc:MaterialEntity.

disposition

The current state of a dwc:MaterialEntity with respect to a collection.

materialEntityID

An identifier for a particular instance of a dwc:MaterialEntity.

materialEntityRemarks

Comments or notes about the dwc:MaterialEntity instance.

preparations

A list (concatenated and separated) of preparations and preservation methods for a dwc:MaterialEntity.

verbatimLabel

The content of this term should include no embellishments, prefixes, headers or other additions made to the text. Abbreviations must not be expanded and supposed misspellings must not be corrected. Lines or breakpoints between blocks of text that could be verified by seeing the original labels or images of them may be used. Examples of material entities include preserved specimens, fossil specimens, and material samples. Best practice is to use UTF-8 for all characters. Best practice is to add comment “verbatimLabel derived from human transcription” in dwc:occurrenceRemarks.
MaterialSample

materialSampleID

An identifier for the dwc:MaterialSample (as opposed to a particular digital record of the dwc:MaterialSample). In the absence of a persistent global unique identifier, construct one from a combination of identifiers in the record that will most closely make the dwc:materialSampleID globally unique.
MeasurementOrFact

measurementAccuracy

The description of the potential error associated with the dwc:measurementValue.

measurementDeterminedBy

A list (concatenated and separated) of names of people, groups, or organizations who determined the value of the dwc:MeasurementOrFact.

measurementDeterminedDate

The date on which the dwc:MeasurementOrFact was made.

measurementID

An identifier for the dwc:MeasurementOrFact (information pertaining to measurements, facts, characteristics, or assertions). May be a global unique identifier or an identifier specific to the data set.

measurementMethod

A description of or reference to (publication, URI) the method or protocol used to determine the measurement, fact, characteristic, or assertion.

measurementRemarks

Comments or notes accompanying the dwc:MeasurementOrFact.

measurementType

The nature of the measurement, fact, characteristic, or assertion.

measurementUnit

The units associated with the dwc:measurementValue.

measurementValue

The value of the measurement, fact, characteristic, or assertion.

parentMeasurementID

An identifier for a broader dwc:MeasurementOrFact that groups this and potentially other dwc:MeasurementOrFacts.
No Parent Class

Event

An action that occurs at some location during some time.

FossilSpecimen

A preserved specimen that is a fossil.

GeologicalContext

Geological information, such as stratigraphy, that qualifies a region or place.

HumanObservation

An output of a human observation process.

Identification

A taxonomic determination (e.g., the assignment to a dwc:Taxon).

LivingSpecimen

A specimen that is alive.

MachineObservation

An output of a machine observation process.

MaterialCitation

A reference to or citation of one, a part of, or multiple specimens in scholarly publications.

Occurrence

An existence of a dwc:Organism at a particular place at a particular time.

Organism

A particular organism or defined group of organisms considered to be taxonomically homogeneous.

PreservedSpecimen

A specimen that has been preserved.

Taxon

A group of organisms (sensu http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/OBI_0100026) considered by taxonomists to form a homogeneous unit.

MaterialEntity

An entity that can be identified, exists for some period of time, and consists in whole or in part of physical matter while it exists.

MaterialSample

A material entity that represents an entity of interest in whole or in part.

MeasurementOrFact

A measurement of or fact about an rdfs:Resource (http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#Resource).

ResourceRelationship

A relationship of one rdfs:Resource (http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#Resource) to another.

basisOfRecord

The specific nature of the data record.

collectionCode

The name, acronym, coden, or initialism identifying the collection or data set from which the record was derived.

collectionID

An identifier for the collection or dataset from which the record was derived.

dataGeneralizations

Actions taken to make the shared data less specific or complete than in its original form. Suggests that alternative data of higher quality may be available on request.

datasetName

The name identifying the data set from which the record was derived.

dynamicProperties

A list of additional measurements, facts, characteristics, or assertions about the record. Meant to provide a mechanism for structured content.

informationWithheld

Additional information that exists, but that has not been shared in the given record.

institutionCode

The name (or acronym) in use by the institution having custody of the object(s) or information referred to in the record.

institutionID

An identifier for the institution having custody of the object(s) or information referred to in the record.

ownerInstitutionCode

The name (or acronym) in use by the institution having ownership of the object(s) or information referred to in the record.

datasetID

An identifier for the set of data. May be a global unique identifier or an identifier specific to a collection or institution.

accordingTo

Abstract term to attribute information to a source.
Occurrence

vitality

An indication of whether a dwc:Organism was alive or dead at the time of collection or observation.

associatedMedia

A list (concatenated and separated) of identifiers (publication, global unique identifier, URI) of media associated with the dwc:Occurrence.

associatedOccurrences

A list (concatenated and separated) of identifiers of other dwc:Occurrence records and their associations to this dwc:Occurrence.

associatedReferences

A list (concatenated and separated) of identifiers (publication, bibliographic reference, global unique identifier, URI) of literature associated with the dwc:Occurrence.

associatedTaxa

A list (concatenated and separated) of identifiers or names of dwc:Taxon records and the associations of this dwc:Occurrence to each of them.

behavior

The behavior shown by the subject at the time the dwc:Occurrence was recorded.

caste

Categorisation of individuals for eusocial species (including some mammals and arthropods).

catalogNumber

An identifier (preferably unique) for the record within the data set or collection.

degreeOfEstablishment

The degree to which a dwc:Organism survives, reproduces, and expands its range at the given place and time.

establishmentMeans

Statement about whether a dwc:Organism has been introduced to a given place and time through the direct or indirect activity of modern humans.

georeferenceVerificationStatus

A categorical description of the extent to which the georeference has been verified to represent the best possible spatial description for the dcterms:Location of the dwc:Occurrence.

individualCount

The number of individuals present at the time of the dwc:Occurrence.

lifeStage

The age class or life stage of the dwc:Organism(s) at the time the dwc:Occurrence was recorded.

occurrenceID

An identifier for the dwc:Occurrence (as opposed to a particular digital record of the dwc:Occurrence). In the absence of a persistent global unique identifier, construct one from a combination of identifiers in the record that will most closely make the dwc:occurrenceID globally unique.

occurrenceRemarks

Comments or notes about the dwc:Occurrence.

occurrenceStatus

A statement about the presence or absence of a dwc:Taxon at a dcterms:Location.

organismQuantity

A number or enumeration value for the quantity of dwc:Organisms.

organismQuantityType

The type of quantification system used for the quantity of dwc:Organisms.

otherCatalogNumbers

A list (concatenated and separated) of previous or alternate fully qualified catalog numbers or other human-used identifiers for the same dwc:Occurrence, whether in the current or any other data set or collection.

pathway

The process by which a dwc:Organism came to be in a given place at a given time.

recordNumber

An identifier given to the dwc:Occurrence at the time it was recorded. Often serves as a link between field notes and a dwc:Occurrence record, such as a specimen collector’s number.

recordedBy

A list (concatenated and separated) of names of people, groups, or organizations responsible for recording the original dwc:Occurrence. The primary collector or observer, especially one who applies a personal identifier (dwc:recordNumber), should be listed first.

recordedByID

A list (concatenated and separated) of the globally unique identifier for the person, people, groups, or organizations responsible for recording the original dwc:Occurrence.

reproductiveCondition

The reproductive condition of the biological individual(s) represented in the dwc:Occurrence.

sex

The sex of the biological individual(s) represented in the dwc:Occurrence.
Organism

associatedOrganisms

A list (concatenated and separated) of identifiers of other dwc:Organisms and the associations of this dwc:Organism to each of them.

organismID

An identifier for the dwc:Organism instance (as opposed to a particular digital record of the dwc:Organism). May be a globally unique identifier or an identifier specific to the data set.

organismName

A textual name or label assigned to a dwc:Organism instance.

organismRemarks

Comments or notes about the dwc:Organism instance.

organismScope

A description of the kind of dwc:Organism instance. Can be used to indicate whether the dwc:Organism instance represents a discrete organism or if it represents a particular type of aggregation.

previousIdentifications

A list (concatenated and separated) of previous assignments of names to the dwc:Organism.
ResourceRelationship

relationshipEstablishedDate

The date-time on which the relationship between the two resources was established.

relationshipOfResource

The relationship of the subject (identified by dwc:resourceID) to the object (identified by dwc:relatedResourceID).

relationshipOfResourceID

An identifier for the relationship type (predicate) that connects the subject identified by dwc:resourceID to its object identified by dwc:relatedResourceID.

relationshipRemarks

Comments or notes about the relationship between the two resources.

resourceRelationshipID

An identifier for an instance of relationship between one resource (the subject) and another (dwc:relatedResource, the object).

relatedResourceID

An identifier for a related resource (the object, rather than the subject of the relationship).

relationshipAccordingTo

The source (person, organization, publication, reference) establishing the relationship between the two resources.

resourceID

An identifier for the resource that is the subject of the relationship.
Taxon

superfamily

The full scientific name of the superfamily in which the dwc:Taxon is classified.

acceptedNameUsage

The full name, with authorship and date information if known, of the currently valid (zoological) or accepted (botanical) dwc:Taxon.

acceptedNameUsageID

An identifier for the name usage (documented meaning of the name according to a source) of the currently valid (zoological) or accepted (botanical) taxon.

class

The full scientific name of the class in which the dwc:Taxon is classified.

cultivarEpithet

Part of the name of a cultivar, cultivar group or grex that follows the dwc:scientificName.

family

The full scientific name of the family in which the dwc:Taxon is classified.

genericName

The genus part of the dwc:scientificName without authorship.

genus

The full scientific name of the genus in which the dwc:Taxon is classified.

higherClassification

A list (concatenated and separated) of taxa names terminating at the rank immediately superior to the referenced dwc:Taxon.

infragenericEpithet

The infrageneric part of a binomial name at ranks above species but below genus.

infraspecificEpithet

The name of the lowest or terminal infraspecific epithet of the dwc:scientificName, excluding any rank designation.

kingdom

The full scientific name of the kingdom in which the dwc:Taxon is classified.

nameAccordingTo

The reference to the source in which the specific taxon concept circumscription is defined or implied - traditionally signified by the Latin “sensu” or “sec.” (from secundum, meaning “according to”). For taxa that result from identifications, a reference to the keys, monographs, experts and other sources should be given.

nameAccordingToID

An identifier for the source in which the specific taxon concept circumscription is defined or implied. See dwc:nameAccordingTo.

namePublishedIn

A reference for the publication in which the dwc:scientificName was originally established under the rules of the associated dwc:nomenclaturalCode.

namePublishedInID

An identifier for the publication in which the dwc:scientificName was originally established under the rules of the associated dwc:nomenclaturalCode.

namePublishedInYear

The four-digit year in which the dwc:scientificName was published.

nomenclaturalCode

The nomenclatural code (or codes in the case of an ambiregnal name) under which the dwc:scientificName is constructed.

nomenclaturalStatus

The status related to the original publication of the name and its conformance to the relevant rules of nomenclature. It is based essentially on an algorithm according to the business rules of the code. It requires no taxonomic opinion.

order

The full scientific name of the order in which the dwc:Taxon is classified.

originalNameUsage

The taxon name, with authorship and date information if known, as it originally appeared when first established under the rules of the associated dwc:nomenclaturalCode. The basionym (botany) or basonym (bacteriology) of the dwc:scientificName or the senior/earlier homonym for replaced names.

originalNameUsageID

An identifier for the name usage (documented meaning of the name according to a source) in which the terminal element of the dwc:scientificName was originally established under the rules of the associated dwc:nomenclaturalCode.

parentNameUsage

The full name, with authorship and date information if known, of the direct, most proximate higher-rank parent dwc:Taxon (in a classification) of the most specific element of the dwc:scientificName.

parentNameUsageID

An identifier for the name usage (documented meaning of the name according to a source) of the direct, most proximate higher-rank parent taxon (in a classification) of the most specific element of the dwc:scientificName.

phylum

The full scientific name of the phylum or division in which the dwc:Taxon is classified.

scientificName

The full scientific name, with authorship and date information if known. When forming part of a dwc:Identification, this should be the name in lowest level taxonomic rank that can be determined. This term should not contain identification qualifications, which should instead be supplied in the dwc:identificationQualifier term.

scientificNameAuthorship

The authorship information for the dwc:scientificName formatted according to the conventions of the applicable dwc:nomenclaturalCode.

specificEpithet

The name of the first or species epithet of the dwc:scientificName.

subfamily

The full scientific name of the subfamily in which the dwc:Taxon is classified.

subgenus

The full scientific name of the subgenus in which the dwc:Taxon is classified. Values should include the genus to avoid homonym confusion.

subtribe

The full scientific name of the subtribe in which the dwc:Taxon is classified.

taxonConceptID

An identifier for the taxonomic concept to which the record refers - not for the nomenclatural details of a dwc:Taxon.

taxonID

An identifier for the set of dwc:Taxon information. May be a global unique identifier or an identifier specific to the data set.

taxonRank

The taxonomic rank of the most specific name in the dwc:scientificName.

taxonomicStatus

The status of the use of the dwc:scientificName as a label for a taxon. Requires taxonomic opinion to define the scope of a dwc:Taxon. Rules of priority then are used to define the taxonomic status of the nomenclature contained in that scope, combined with the experts opinion. It must be linked to a specific taxonomic reference that defines the concept.

tribe

The full scientific name of the tribe in which the dwc:Taxon is classified.

verbatimTaxonRank

The taxonomic rank of the most specific name in the dwc:scientificName as it appears in the original record.

vernacularName

A common or vernacular name.

scientificNameID

An identifier for the nomenclatural (not taxonomic) details of a scientific name.

taxonRemarks

Comments or notes about the taxon or name.

Superseded Versions: